In the second ODI match of the ongoing three-game series against West Indies, Team India’s defeat on Saturday has drawn criticism from some former Indian cricketers. The absence of senior and experienced players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli left India struggling to post a competitive total on the scoreboard. The decision to exclude Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the second ODI was part of India’s experimentation leading up to the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup. Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad did not mince words, expressing his disappointment with India’s performance in white-ball cricket.
Prasad took to Twitter to voice his concerns, stating, “Setting aside Test cricket, India’s performance in the other two formats has been rather lackluster for a while now. We’ve lost ODI series against Bangladesh, South Africa, and Australia. Our performance in the last two T20 World Cups has been subpar. We neither possess the exciting flair of England nor the ruthless dominance of the Aussies. (1/2)”
He continued by saying, “Despite our financial resources and influence in the cricketing world, we seem to have grown accustomed to celebrating mediocrity. We are far from resembling champion teams. While every team aims to win, India’s approach and attitude have also played a role in our underperformance over an extended period. (2/2)”
In the match, West Indies managed to bowl out Team India for a mere 181 runs in 40.5 overs, with Ishan Kishan being the highest scorer with his 55-run innings. In response, West Indies successfully chased down the target in 36.4 overs, with skipper Shai Hope leading the way with an unbeaten 63-run performance.
